(I’m taking part in the Twitter #adventbookclub, reading “Beginnings and Endings” by Maggi Dawn. Not every day will have a blog post.)

Yesterday afternoon and evening we had an Advent Labyrinth in our church. A path through several stopping points, loosely based on the journey of the Magi; an opportunity to reflect on our lives and the world around us.The labyrinth started with the words, “Would you go, if God sent you a sign?” For the wise men, the sign was the star, and the journey was a real one, weeks or months of travel.

Not all journeys are geographical ones, travelling from one place to another. As I entered the labyrinth, my thoughts were on my personal ‘journey’ through chronic illness, and the ‘journey’ of change our church is about to go through.

The labyrinth is an opportunity for quiet reflection, prayer, and response; but it wasn’t wholly silent. In the background, we heard some of the music of Margaret Rizza, including her ‘Magnificat’:

Magnificat anima mea Dominum / My soul magnifies the Lord

This is the beginning of today’s Bible passage in “Beginnings and Endings”: Mary’s song from Luke 1. Her ‘journey’ was just beginning; an extraordinary one unlike any other in history. And her reaction is to praise God who has called her on this journey.

Whatever journeys we are going through, whether we are just starting out, somewhere in the middle, lost our way and trying to get back on track – may we praise God who calls us on our journey, travels alongside us, and will be waiting for us at the journey’s end.